Poway middle schoolers learn art of debate

POWAY —— There's a new after-school club at Meadowbrook Middle
School in which students are learning how to think logically, argue
constructively and interview for college.

The new speech and debate club is a good place for children to
learn effective but diplomatic ways to make a point, said Vice
Principal Ken Montgomery, who started the club in October.

Montgomery, who previously taught English for the Poway Unified
School District, said the way a person speaks can make a difference
in how they do in school, get along with adults and peers, and
compete for jobs, scholarships and their school of choice.

"I've had a couple of parents come up to me and thank me for
having a program like this," he said recently. "They know how much
this is going to help (their children) get into college. … They're
going to nail it when they go in for their interview."

Of the six middle schools in the Poway district, Meadowbrook is
the only one with a debate club. Montgomery started one at Rancho
Bernardo High School when he was a vice principal there. Now, two
high school students are teaching the middle schoolers what they
learned from the club.

"Our main goal is to just get them up to speak," said
12th-grader Jessica Cameron, 17. "It's been a great success so
far."

One day earlier this month, Jessica engaged 18 students in a
debate over the pros and cons of the United States imprisoning
suspected terrorists on the U.S. naval station at Guantanamo Bay,
Cuba.

After some words of encouragement from Montgomery, eighth-grader
Amanda Lee, 13, expressed her views on the subject.

"They should give them the right to trial by jury," she said.
"And before they are taken there, the military should have more
evidence of them being terrorists … "

On the other side, students argued that the prison prevents
terrorist attacks and keeps the prisoners separated from
civilians.

Aside from a couple of pauses, eighth-grader Emma Castor, 13,
offered her view. "Just leave them somewhere because (some
governments) used to do that," she said. "I know it's not nice but
… they can fend for themselves."

Students also honed their quick-thinking skills by playing the
"Question Game," with the goal of holding an impromptu conversation
without making a statement or pausing too long. They also learned
that not all sentences that start with "who, what, where, why" or
"how," are questions.

"What the heck," Amanda said, before she had to sit out.

After the weekly club meeting was over and some students
reluctantly left, others kept talking.

"I think the club is a really good opportunity for all the
grades," said sixth-grader Carrie Chen, 11. "One of the best things
to get you into college is speech and debate … and to be able to
express your views on a topic."

Christopher Norby, who said he was the student body president at
Pomerado Elementary School, added, "This will definitely help me
because I will probably do this in high school and when I get into
a university. It's something I enjoy."

His mother, Kim Norby, said she was pleased the club offers
Christopher a way to learn communication skills.

"I think teenagers are perfect arguers," she said. "Why not
teach them to do it in a respectful manner?"